MICUA Matters Newsletter

Elliot Hirshman Appointed New President of Stevenson University

Spring 2017

The Stevenson University Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Elliot Hirshman, Ph.D. as the University’s sixth president effective July 1, 2017. Hirshman joins the University after serving as president of San Diego State University (SDSU) since 2011.

Under President Hirshman’s leadership, SDSU implemented an integrated budget and financial strategy; raised more than $755 million in private philanthropy for scholarships and new initiatives and programs; and established and endowed its Honors College. SDSU is recognized nationally for increasing student retention and graduation rates – rates that are equal across ethnic and racial groups.

“I am honored to join Stevenson University’s dynamic community,” said Hirshman. “Stevenson’s unique integration of career preparation and the traditional liberal arts reflects the best traditions of American higher education while envisioning a future that serves our students and our communities. The University’s core values of community, learning, integrity, and excellence were evident in every aspect of the recruitment process. I am excited to work collaboratively with our diverse community to support these values.”

Prior to Hirshman’s appointment at SDSU, he served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

“Elliot is one of the nation’s most impressive thought leaders in education,” said Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President of UMBC. “He has broad experience in all types of institutions, and he commands the respect of leaders throughout the United States. Most important, he cares deeply about students and understands the important role that institutions play in developing their skills and preparing them for productive careers."

Hirshman also has been chief research officer at the George Washington University and chaired the Department of Psychology there and at the University of Colorado at Denver. He began his academic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hirshman earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in economics and mathematics from Yale and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from UCLA.